Get ready for the NCEA Level 1 Energy Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with clear explanations and hints. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

Which statement correctly defines latent heat of fusion?

Latent heat of fusion is about the energy involved when a solid becomes a liquid (melting) or a liquid becomes a solid (freezing) at the substance’s melting/freezing point. This heat is absorbed or released without any change in temperature, because it goes into breaking or forming the intermolecular forces that hold the solid together. For example, ice at 0°C needs about 334 kJ of energy to melt 1 kg, and the same amount is released when it freezes. This distinguishes fusion from simply warming a substance (which changes temperature) or from vaporization (the energy involved in turning a liquid into gas).

Latent heat of fusion is about the energy involved when a solid becomes a liquid (melting) or a liquid becomes a solid (freezing) at the substance’s melting/freezing point. This heat is absorbed or released without any change in temperature, because it goes into breaking or forming the intermolecular forces that hold the solid together. For example, ice at 0°C needs about 334 kJ of energy to melt 1 kg, and the same amount is released when it freezes. This distinguishes fusion from simply warming a substance (which changes temperature) or from vaporization (the energy involved in turning a liquid into gas).